NISIMAN MINOR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner is a minor aged about 7 years born on 29th July 2002 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences ('AIIMS'), New Delhi. He applied for issuance of a passport at the Regional Passport Office ('RPO'), Ghaziabad. This was issued to him on 16th February 2002 for five years. The said passport expired on 15th February 2009. In the meanwhile, the Petitioner shifted to Delhi in 2004 and thereafter applied for renewal of the passport to the RPO at New Delhi. The application filled up by his father was accompanied by a birth certificate in which the place of birth was indicated as 'AIIMS'. In the enclosed 'personal particulars' form the place of birth was indicated as 'New Delhi'. In the enclosed declaration it was stated that the place of birth is 'Delhi NCR (Ghaziabad)'.

(2.) On 31st March 2009, a letter was written to the Petitioner through his father stating that "your place of birth is not clear, please clarify by providing details such as Village/Town, District, State and Country.' In response thereto, on 3rd April 2009, the father of the Petitioner replied stating that the place of birth of the Petitioner was 'Ghaziabad'. On 15th April 2009, a letter was again written by the RPO to the Petitioner through his father stating that his place of birth was not clear.

(3.) According to the Petitioner when his father visited the office of the RPO on 30th April 2009 he was asked to deposit a 'balance fee' of Rs. 1,000. A cash receipt for the said 'balance fee' for the said amount was issued to him. A copy of the receipt has been enclosed with the petition.